PHUKET, 27 May 2015 – The Royal Thai Navy has launched offshore operations to help Rohingya migrants and victims of human trafficking stranded at sea.
The Naval Civil Affairs Department said the Royal Thai Navy used HTMS Ang Thong as the base of operations to deal with illegal fishing and human trafficking. Another seven ships and two aircraft have been deployed to the southern seas to support the mission, which began on May 26. Medical staff will be sent to the base on May 29.
The operation base was launched in the wake of a report that a new batch of Rohingya migrants from Bangladesh this month have disembarked ahead of the monsoon season.
The navy said those spotted in Thai waters would be told to leave, claiming that migrants never consider Thailand as a final destination. However, officials will provide them with humanitarian assistance as needed. Those found ashore will be dealt with by international law.
